What a crazy week it seems to have been. Of course, these are my thoughts based on observations of everything going on around us.
No, I do not allow media to consume me. Yes, I do allow enough media consumption to have awareness. As much as I appreciate unplugging and providing focus time for my big ideas, I also like to schedule time in my day to tune in to current events so that I can engage in conversation. The current events been a bit wild, for sure. That balance is always a delicate one.
Today is International Women’s Day, which is important for me to acknowledge. I’m going to touch on the women in our past, present, and future.
We are highly emotional creatures, after all. Were we born this way? Perhaps, to a degree. All humans possess both masculine and feminine energies. Have we been conditioned by societal norms to suppress our power; to only portray soft and nurturing qualities and only when called upon to do so? Of course.
Does that mean that in this time and place that we should continue to conform? Of course not.
What is a “strong, admiral woman”? What does she look like and how does she behave?
Is she the high functioning powerhouse? The one who has busted her ass to get to the C suite while being called a bitch every step along the way?
Is she the activist, the protestor, the dreamer, the screamer? The one who is loud and proud and unapologetic; setting all nurturing characteristics aside during the moments that matter to her cause?
Is she the one that Oriah Mountain Dreamer describes in The Invitation who gets up “after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone [to] do what needs to be done to feed the children?”
I believe that she is all of these examples and more.
What matters most is what she thinks of herself. This is not egotistical, this is essential.
Somewhere along the path from childhood to adulthood, we are exposed to these societal norms and expectations. I am beginning to see that it isn’t always intentional. It is simply passed from generation to generation, at times becoming further diluted along the way (which could be a good thing).
We are at the one century mark that women earned the right to vote.
That is all. Only one hundred years since the dawn of time.
That’s why I will not pass on an opportunity to do so. Yes, even in the primaries. Yes, even for the local and the midterm elections. Especially for those. Because I know that women before me died for my right to have my voice heard. I can’t imagine not showing up to honor that. I will do my research, make informed decisions based on my interests and the interests of those I love, and I will vote.
Every. Damn. Time.
I don’t care if it’s raining. I don’t care if it’s inconvenient. I don’t care if I have to wait for hours. I don’t care if I have to get up early to get it in before work. I will be there. I will even sign up to drive others to the polls if I have to.
It’s the least I can do.
Another topic this week has been the COVID-19 outbreak. My appetite for awareness has led me to engage and connect with badass women in the medical and food service fields who are teaching me how to wash my hands and not to touch my face. I know it’s crazy. But wow, I have learned so much over the past 48 hours alone.
Of course, I have been washing my hands all of my life (though probably not as well as I should). And learning that touching my face is simply answering an urge…well, that’s huge. A game changer. I am grateful for the nuggets provided by other women. I am now rethinking the next manicure. It’s not something I do often, yet I am now further enlightened, and I think that’s more valuable than gold.
That’s legacy level stuff.
No, I’m not concerned about falling ill. I am aware of the public reaction and potential quarantines. I am not fearful. I am simply aware. There’s a difference.
I think that’s what women do. We stay in a state of awareness and we ready ourselves and our families. Note: I am not responsible for contributing to the hand sanitizer and toilet paper shortage. I have no idea where the latter is coming from.
Finally, there are the women of the future and those are the children today.
Last weekend, I accompanied my son and two of his friends from the neighborhood, a brother/sister team, to a nearby park so they could play baseball in a field.
As soon as we reached the field, the boys started playing while she immediately nestled in the grass and began eating snacks.
The girl, around age seven, was sitting on sidelines. Just watching. Chilling.
I asked her what was up with her. Why was she not engaging?
Cool as a cucumber, she looked me in the eye and said, “I’m the coach.”
Rock on.
When she owns her presence, even the tiniest of women among us can own the room (or the field).
When she expresses self-love and deep understanding for the power within, the external judgments cannot penetrate the armor of a woman.
Picture Wonder Woman right now. Fierce. Amazing. Amazonian.
I think there is pressure on every human on any given day to get it “right” and by whatever defined standard of “right” he/she has accepted as a definition of his/her purpose.
I think that’s what International Women’s Day is about. It’s actually about humanity, while acknowledging the woman’s crucial role in that picture.
And ultimately, the reality you create is born of your thoughts. Your thoughts about the world around you, about others; most importantly, your thoughts about yourself.
Amazing things can happen when you own your mind and decide to create your own world.
I know this to be true.
After all, I’m the coach.
I want every little girl who’s told she’s bossy, to be told instead that she has leadership skills. – Sheryl Sanberg
Would you like to be coached on this or another area of your life? Book a free consultation with me here.
Sunny and Raw 